Financial Comparative Analysis of Minimally Invasive Surgery to Open Surgery for Localized Prostate Cancer: A Single-Institution Experience

Objectives To evaluate the financial implications of how the costs of new minimally invasive surgery such as laparoscopic robotic prostatectomy (LRP) and cryosurgical ablation of the prostate (CAP) technologies compare with those of conventional surgery. Methods From January 2002 to July 2005, 452 consecutive patients underwent surgical treatment for clinically localized (Stage T1-T2) prostate cancer. The distribution of patients among the surgical procedures was as follows: group 1, radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) (n = 197); group 2, radical perineal prostatectomy (RPP) (n = 60); group 3, LRP (n = 137); and group 4, CAP (n = 58). The total direct hospital costs and grand total hospital costs were analyzed for each type of surgery. Results The mean length of stay in the CAP group was significantly lower (0.16 ± 0.14 days) than that for RRP (2.79 ± 1.46 days), RPP (2.87 ± 1.43 days), and LRP (2.15 ± 1.48 days; P